Toronto fest closes in on HQ financing

Bell Lightbox building will officially open in September

The Toronto Film Festival’s Bell Lightbox campaign has reached 90% of its $196 million capital target, thanks to $9.5 million in partnerships and gifts secured during the first half of 2010, festival CEO and director Piers Handling said Tuesday.

The five-storey Lightbox, the fest’s new headquarters, officially opens in September.

Among several major contributions is a new multi-year partnership with BlackBerry (Research in Motion), which will name the lounge next to the Lightbox’s three largest cinemas.

Over the next few months the organization will work hard to raise the remaining $12.8 million, and post-festival will focus on raising $8 million in operating funds and $4 million in endowment gifts.